A few weeks ago, I blogged about the financial troubles afflicting ePassporte, an online payment provider whose sudden disconnection from the Visa network left many account holders without access to millions of dollars. I became interested in ePassporte because it kept popping up as I was investigating stories related to affiliate programs that reward people who peddle things like rogue anti-virus products and spam.
Since then, I’ve heard from a large number of disgruntled ePassporte account holders, most of whom were or are in the online porn industry, a market that ePassporte’s CEO Chris Mallick helped to nurture. In fact, as I noted in that original blog entry, Mallick produced “Middle Men,” a movie released by Paramount in August that is a fictionalized account of his experiences in the porn billing industry.
Many of those readers have been asking for an update on this story, and I’m afraid I don’t have a whole lot more to report. But the old adage about following the money led me to at least try to understand a bit more about how ePassporte is structured, and where its money may be.
Before I get to that, it makes sense to restate what’s been said by the parties involved. On Sept. 2, ePassporte owner Chris Mallick sent an e-mail to account holders saying the company was notified that effective immediately, Visa International had suspended the ePassporte Visa program, a card issued by St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank that ePassporte customers could use to withdraw cash at ATMs worldwide.
I contacted Visa for comment on that story, and the following Tuesday received a statement from Visa via e-mail saying that it had disconnected ePassporte at the request of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank to “address certain program deficiencies.” Neither Visa nor SKNA Bank has been willing to discuss what those deficiencies may have been. A story in the St. Kitts Nevis Observer quotes a St. Kitts National Bank representative as saying Visa had cleared them of any wrongdoing, although that official – Patricia Wilkinson – declined to say who had accused them of wrongdoing or answer any other questions when I reached her by phone on Monday.
In checking out numerous forums and looking up bank and incorporation records online, I learned that ePassporte is incorporated in Curaçao, an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela. Indeed, the ePassporte Visa cards themselves include this information, indirectly at least, with the statement:
“This card is issued by St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited” (“Bank”) pursuant to a license from Visa International and under a co-branding agreement between ePassporte N.V. and the bank.”
The Web site for the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce & Industry says ePassporte N.V. is registered at the address Kaya Richard J. Beaujon Z/N, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. The managing director of the company is a man named Gregory E. Elias (the same information is included in a old WHOIS records search for epassporte.com).
According to multiple ePassporte users with whom I’ve corresponded, any wires or bank transfers used to deposit funds in ePassporte accounts are sent to ePassporte N.V. via an entity called United International Bank N.V., an organization founded in 2009. Interestingly, United International Bank also lists the same Curaçao address, and lists Mr. Elias as a director, among others. So, on the surface at least, it appears that ePassporte and its primary bank are owned and operated by the same entity and directors.
I was able to locate a phone number for Mr. Elias and reached him this morning at United International Trust. Elias said he had no idea ePassporte customers were having trouble withdrawing their money from the bank, but he declined to answer direct questions about the situation.
“The only thing we can tell you is if you send your inquires and questions in writing to us, we will pass them on to Mr. Mallick and his lawyers,” Elias said. “We cannot go over queries over the phone. We never do that.” Elias declined to give me his e-mail address, saying I should be able to find it if I really were an investigative reporter.
Mallick and ePassporte have yet to respond to requests for comment. Mallick issued another statement Sept. 10 via an adult Webmaster forum, urging customers who were having trouble withdrawing their funds to be patient. “Our staff is all working diligently to resolve these issues and the many moving and complicated parts of getting the funds returned,” Mallick wrote. “Therefore, please do not mistake our silence as hiding, avoiding or stringing you along. We too have funds that are stuck in the system as well as massive costs of operation without any income.”
But bereft of any hard information from ePassporte, the company’s customers have begun spinning conspiracy theories about what could have fueled the entire fiasco. Some have pointed to Mallick’s film, which according to Web site boxofficemojo.com cost an estimated $20 million but grossed less than $800,000 in a three week run at the box office that ended in late August.
In any event, I put some of the information I found into a spreadsheet (a portion of which is included below), mainly to help me understand the relationship between the various interested parties as I followed the trail of other stories I’ve been working on. It may be useful to some ePassporte customers: It includes Mr. Elias’ e-mail address and phone number.
This gets better and better… Now the notice saying the bank commandeered the VISA account balances info is down and the ‘due to maintenance’ message is back up.
I have a great idea for a new Mallick movie that would actually fill seats. Use Chris’ crisis management maneuvers through this fiasco as the plot and call it “Death Of A Middle Man”. I’d pay to see that, and I bet millions more ePassporte cardholders would as well… LOL
Hey guys, thanks for all the comments, but please know that I’m not deleting or “censoring” any comments here. If you post a comment that has a ton of links in it, the blog is going to automatically assume you are a spammer and hold your comment for moderation. If you post one of these multi-link messages, your comment may sit there in queue for quite some time, as I also have to wait through pages and pages worth of real spam to weed out one or two non-spam comments. This is not a task that I enjoy, and so I tend not to do it daily.
thx god i had $5000 in wallet and $627 in virtual. .. today i lost last hope that 1 day ill cash the $627. oh god, really sad today 🙁
i don t know if the money are gone forever. but i won t stay to see what is going on like a ship standing in front of a slaughterhouse. i think is time to act. but i also think that, one by one, we are insignificant. if everyone get a different lawyer, the chances that this lawyer is a good one are minimal. so, maybe together we are stronger. maybe together will find a good (even expensive) lawyer who can take our money back. maybe krebsonsecurity is the good place not only for complaining, but also for discuss how to act. i am not from US, so it s difficult for me to contact personally a good lawyer from there. but you guys, you can do it. and i am willing to pay my share of his fee. let s take our money back. time for mourning should be over. let s fight back.
In a few words have wash your hands.
I live in Europe. call number of the bank cost me 18 euros per minute. familiar with the bank that calls usually last more than 30 minute. if I call them to recover my money I spend more than I on behalf of Visa. I sent email see if they meet.
tired.
I do not know what to do
but not normal ePassporte does not know anything?
Visa and close them he does not warn in time?
he shall amend the site they do not have private prior notice?
but this thing stinks so much.
use skype to call, doh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLUU41enZQA
Cute video. Who made that, do you know?
I have good news guys and girls!!! 😉
To All SKNANB Visa Prepaid Cardholders
SKNANB is committed to adhering to Visa’s stringent program requirements and maintaining the integrity of the global payment network. On instruction of SKNANB, on September 23rd, 2010, ePassporte’s network access for cards issued by SKNANB was disabled. As a result, SKNANB prepaid cardholders will not be able to view their card balances through the ePassporte.com website.
SKNANB is actively working to restore, as soon as possible, SKNANB prepaid cardholders’ ability to obtain information regarding their Visa card balances and to access Visa card funds. SKNANB prepaid cardholders can expect further communication from SKNANB on or before September 30th 2010.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your SKNANB prepaid card, please contact SKNANB at vcprepaid@sknanb.com. In addition, a dedicated telephone line will be established shortly.
SKNANB thanks you for your continued patience.
St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited
Hoo boy! The situation keeps looking brighter every day!
To All SKNANB Visa Prepaid Cardholders
As previously advised, SKNANB has been working diligently on the necessary efforts to restore prepaid cardholders’ ability to access their Visa card funds.
Subject to slight adjustment, it is expected that from Wednesday, October 6th, the overwhelming majority of cardholders will be able to access the funds on their Visa Card using their existing card, without providing SKNANB further information. A small percentage of cardholders will be asked to provide certain confirming information. SKNANB prepaid cardholders can expect further communication from us on October 4th in this regard.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your SKNANB prepaid card, please contact SKNANB at vcprepaid@sknanb.com. In addition, cardholders can call +1-869-466-9733 to contact the cardholder services centre between the hours of 8am and 4pm Atlantic Standard Time. Please note, the call volume could be quite large, as such, there may be extended wait times.
Does this mean that Epass Visa card will be replaced by SKNANB prepaid card and we shall ask for it??
Just spoke with a representative over at SKNANB, according to her “Cammy” (that may be spelled wrong but that is how the name sounded). They’ll have another statement out before the 30th of September and they do plan on allowing access to the funds, how-ever anyone that wishes to regain their funds will be in required to provide a government issued ID card scanned/faxed copy.
Not sure why the heck my reply vanished but it was good news.
As I mentioned after talking to a person over at the bank “Cammy” who is a Manager of their “Bank Card” branch, she said to follow on the SKNANB site since they will have an update before September 30th and that all users will be given the chance to access their funds if they can prove they own the account (it isn’t fake), with a copy of a government issued ID. She didn’t say where to send or what kind of ID would be ok to use since they are still working out the details.
Sounds like it may take some more time but everyone who didn’t have false info on their Epassporte should be able to regain access eventually.
yes, you will get old card working or new SKNANB card.
Send him email about more info
What email do we send our info at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix6Sc42thu0&feature=related
Another ePass video comedy parody.
x Superaffiliati
Good evening.
I’m sorry but where did you get this email this communication?
god I hope it’s true I hope that everything goes better.
To anyone with an account, it seems like they only send the updates when you log in to your account. This new message is a real gem:
IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING YOUR EPASSPORTE ACCOUNT
Dear ePassporte Account Holders,
St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank, without our prior knowledge, has turned off the ability for ePassporte to access or display Account Holders’ Visa Card balances. This means that when you login to your ePassporte Account, you will only be able to see your Wallet balance. As a consequence, inquiries regarding your Visa Card balance must be directed to St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank. St Kitts Bank is responsible for all funds on Visa Cards. Their contact information is as follows:
St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Ltd.
Central Street,
P.O. Box 343
Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies
Tel: (869) 465-2204 Mon – Thurs: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fax: (869) 465-1050
Email: webmaster@sknanb.com
ePassporte will continue to provide support with regard to the funds in your Wallet. We kindly ask for your patience as we must verify Accounts and balances manually.
Thank You,
ePassporte Account Holder Services
I posted this same message and it was deleted
x Superaffiliati
hello
sorry if I doubted the authenticity of the communication. I found on the Internet.
only that going to the website of the bank you would not be right away. Perhaps you need to login? need to enroll in the bank’s site? how?
thanks for the news
good response and only hope of this month..
Thank you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRyoq_pzm50
here is bank link https://www.sknanb.com/message.htm
Its pretty hard for me to fight for our rights and complain… since we are here in the philippines…
i just hope ill get my money back
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t it better that the “Bank” has our money and not “Epassporte”? If the bank has it, then it should be either protected or insured by VISA, right? I feel more sorry for the people who kept their money in the Wallet. That money is going to be used to pay off the debt from movie that flopped in August.
Brian: just rec’d these email notices from EP.
note that a couple also have the date of Sept 16 even tho the rec’d date is today.
wonder what’s that about? maybe just sitting there cuz i haven’t checked it for a while?
#1
Received: Sep 27, 2010 AM PDT
Subject: Message from Epassporte
Dear ePassporte Account Holders
St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank, without our prior knowledge, has turned off the ability for ePassporte to access or display Account Holders’ Visa Card balances. This means that when you login to your ePassporte Account, you will only be able to see your Wallet balance. As a consequence, inquiries regarding your Visa Card balance must be directed to St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank. St Kitts Bank is responsible for all funds on Visa Cards. Their contact information is as follows:
St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Ltd.
Central Street,
P.O. Box 343
Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies
Tel: (869) 465-2204 Mon – Thurs: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fax: (869) 465-1050
Email: webmaster@sknanb.com
ePassporte will continue to provide support with regard to the funds in your Wallet. We kindly ask for your patience as we must verify Accounts and balances manually.
Thank You,
ePassporte Account Holder Services
#2
Received: Sep 27, 2010 AM PDT
Subject: Message from Epassporte
September 16, 2010
ePassporte N.V. has had several extensive meetings with St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank (the “Bank”) in an effort to resume operations and card functionality.
We are encouraged and believe these meetings and ongoing discussions with the Bank will result in all card functions becoming operational shortly, although a date has not yet been determined.
ePassporte and St Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank want to assure cardholders that their funds are safe and that resuming operations is a key and attainable goal.
A few very import points:
For information regarding your Account, it is imperative that you contact us via the Message Center or call our Account Holder Services line (310.301.2001).
PLEASE DO NOT contact ePassporte N.V. in Curacao, Mr. Elias, United Bank or St. Kitts Bank. Messages sent to the above may not be answered. All operational issues are handled by the ePassporte team via the Message Center or Call Center ONLY. Please also avoid posting your username on forums as this could pose a security risk to your Account.
We greatly appreciate your continued patience and understanding and will continue to update you regarding this situation via the Message Center.
Sincerely,
ePassporte.com
#3
Received: Sep 27, 2010 AM PDT
Subject: Message from Epassporte
September 16, 2010
Over the past few days there have been numerous blogs and posts calling into question the reputation of Mr. Gregory Elias, United International Trust and United International Bank.
We are issuing this press release to clarify Mr. Elias’ position as well as the position of United International Trust and United International Bank in regards to ePassporte.
ePassporte has utilized the services of United International Trust since 2006. United International Trust serves only to manage the corporate governance of ePassporte and has no input, or control as regards its daily management.
In 2009 United International Bank was formed to provide commercial and corporate banking services and subsequently ePassporte has moved some of its operating accounts to this bank.
United International Bank does not hold funds for ePassporte holders. United International Bank merely pays the vendors for ePassporte.
Neither Mr. Elias, United Trust nor United International Bank have any control over these funds.
All requests and inquiries should be forwarded to ePassporte at the Message Center, which you may log on to at http://www.epassporte.com if you are an active cardholder.
We apologize to Mr. Elias, United Trust and United Bank for any confusion that may have arisen these last weeks as a result of difficulties we at ePassporte, with St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, are responsible to manage.
Christopher Mallick, for ePassporte
C’est tres weird that a comment is not showing just cuz it reports information — from epassporte which I wouldn’t have known about if I hadn’t pursued further — it’s kinda like executing the messenger for providing the message.
Strange commenting system you have here.
Your fees seem to be cheaper than payoneer and ipay, but I think I will be sticking to the safety of paper checks from now on..
Im having a hard time sending emails through sknanb
and not getting any answers.. any idea how we get our money back…and what to do? like contacting Sknanb?
I have funds blocked too. If everybody hire an unique lawyer, please advise me . I need my money back.
I won’t give up, i’ll do anything to get my money back, till now epassporte is the only responsible for our funds, a good lawyer will be my next step.
Me too. Include me in your lawyer. Unique lawyer with many users ,would be stronger
Include me as well please. I would like to get in on a class action lawsuit if we don’t get our money back soon. There is strength in numbers!
SKNA – TODAY IS 30/SEPT AND NOTHINH HAPPENED.
MR KREBSS !!!!!!!!!!!
PLEAAAAASE COULD U GET SOME 10 MINUTS OF UR PRECIOUS TIME AND INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FOR US ?!
THANKSSSS
😉
I called this number 1-869-466-9733 at 10am est. I was told by a lady to keep checking the SKNA website for updates. She claims that later today or tomorrow morning we should have an update about the situation. She also said that we should be able to have access to our money by NEXT week.
I am really annoyed, because they claimed last week or the week before that TODAY would be the day we will be given details on how to get our money. Now today they say next week? Man they keep saying this every week for a month now.
Believe them if you want.
To All SKNANB Visa Prepaid Cardholders
SKNANB is committed to adhering to Visa’s stringent program requirements and maintaining the integrity of the global payment network. On instruction of SKNANB, on September 23rd, 2010, ePassporte’s network access for cards issued by SKNANB was disabled. As a result, SKNANB prepaid cardholders will not be able to view their card balances through the ePassporte.com website.
SKNANB is actively working to restore, as soon as possible, SKNANB prepaid cardholders’ ability to obtain information regarding their Visa card balances and to access Visa card funds. SKNANB prepaid cardholders can soon expect further communication from us in this regard.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your SKNANB prepaid card, please contact SKNANB at vprepaid@sknanb.com. In addition, cardholders can call +1-869-466-9733 to contact the cardholder services centre between the hours of 8am and 4pm Atlantic Standard Time. Please note, the call volume could be quite large, as such, there may be extended wait times.
We understand the inconvenience and SKNANB thanks you for your continued patience.
St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited
I have about a thousand dollars in limbo with epassporte.com whose owner is Christopher Mallick. I created a website for all the current updates on the situation. You can also post your own comments and stories. Almost nothing is censored:
http://epassportesucks.com/Guestbook.php
EpassPorte.com Victim Comment and Story Page
This website came about concerning the recent suspension of EpassPorte’s business relationship with VISA and St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank. Search for EPASSPORTE SUSPENDED on Google.
All comments are allowed unless they contain a personal threat to the mentioned persons life or family.
Please tell us your personal story with EpassPorte.
Please share this website with everyone you know via blogs,other guestbooks,email signatures,social networking sites,etc.
New message! Well same message, just changed about a bit and new info added.
” To All SKNANB Visa Prepaid Cardholders
SKNANB is committed to adhering to Visa’s stringent program requirements and maintaining the integrity of the global payment network. On instruction of SKNANB, on September 23rd, 2010, ePassporte’s network access for cards issued by SKNANB was disabled. As a result, SKNANB prepaid cardholders will not be able to view their card balances through the ePassporte.com website.
SKNANB is actively working to restore, as soon as possible, SKNANB prepaid cardholders’ ability to obtain information regarding their Visa card balances and to access Visa card funds. SKNANB prepaid cardholders can soon expect further communication from us in this regard.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your SKNANB prepaid card, please contact SKNANB at vprepaid@sknanb.com. In addition, cardholders can call +1-869-466-9733 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +1-869-466-9733 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to contact the cardholder services centre between the hours of 8am and 4pm Atlantic Standard Time. Please note, the call volume could be quite large, as such, there may be extended wait times.
We understand the inconvenience and SKNANB thanks you for your continued patience.”
GOOD NEWS, hopefully.
As previously advised, SKNANB has been working diligently on the necessary efforts to restore prepaid cardholders’ ability to access their Visa card funds.
Subject to slight adjustment, it is expected that from Wednesday, October 6th, the overwhelming majority of cardholders will be able to access the funds on their Visa Card using their existing card, without providing SKNANB further information. A small percentage of cardholders will be asked to provide certain confirming information. SKNANB prepaid cardholders can expect further communication from us on October 4th in this regard.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your SKNANB prepaid card, please contact SKNANB at vprepaid@sknanb.com. In addition, cardholders can call +1-869-466-9733 to contact the cardholder services centre between the hours of 8am and 4pm Atlantic Standard Time. Please note, the call volume could be quite large, as such, there may be extended wait times.
We understand the inconvenience and SKNANB thanks you for your continued patience.
St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited
Hmmm am I banned from the forum? I am trying to post a message and nothing is showing up.
Ahhhh! I see someone didn’t like I was posting the web address of my own site about this whole ePassPorte situation. All current updates are available at my website EpassPorteSucks Dot Com type that into your browsers address bar with no spaces. If you can read this you will know how to do it. 🙂 I posted your update Jim on my website and gave you credit for it.
They are just buying time. They will be gone before somebody takes action against them.
I am just curious why others are voting me as thumbs down when all I did was create one central meeting place for victims of this whole situation. It is more active than this one at the moment. I am only trying to help. I also am suprised that as a whole ePassPorte and St. Kitts, have thousands if not millions of customers, why as a comparison so few are coming forward with being stuck in this mess too. Any ideas why on that? I would appreciate it if all of you reading this would come to my website and post there as well. It would be appreciated. You can click on my ID above to go to my website. EpassPorteSucks Dot Com
Why are you so surprised that you are getting thumbs down votes, when your user name is AdminEpassPorteSucks? LOL, if you owned epassporte, or managed the company, and someone came out with this name, and had an epassportesucks website, you would give them a thumbs down vote too! LOL, I know I would. No way am I defending them. I’m just saying stop being so sensitive. You can’t possibly think that Christopher Mallick and his supporters are not following this blog.
Anyway, I am about to check out your site. Yes, ePassporte does suck, and a St Kitts bank employee told me they are also closing down for good. So good riddance!
Cammer, Oh I am not ignorant to the fact Christopher Mallick and his supporters are reading this forum,my website, and other sites about this whole mess. I am sure they are giving everyone a thumbs down on the anger expressed towards them at various places on the internet. I was just wondering if it was just a troll doing that on purpose just to be a ass no matter what comment was said. Sort of like the trolls on the Ebay message boards. I am sure Mr. Mallick and his supporters are keeping tabs on all the comments made about him,EpassPorte, and St. Kitts Bank. In fact I hope to God all 3 mentioned above ARE keeping tabs on our angry comments.
The thumbs d0wn are likely ePassporte minions trying to keep negative posts from being index by SEs,. It’s being done on every blog or forum that comments can be rated on.
Or it’s Kreb’s trolls. Every popular blogger has trolls trying to mess with them. Trolls are losers living in their mom’s basements, collecting welfare, and rarely seen in the daylight because they’re fat, ugly, smelly and uncouth, and they know it. Thus their only interaction with humanity is via the internet nowadays, since harassing, perverted phone calls can be so easily traced to mom’s house.
No matter which it is, ignore them any repost.
I forgot about trolls. I think the thumbs down are a combination of internet trolls, Chris Mallick, and epassporte butt kissers. I too hope they are watching all the comments that have destroyed their reputation.
To All SKNANB Visa Prepaid Cardholders
As previously advised, SKNANB has been working diligently on the necessary efforts to restore prepaid cardholders’ ability to access their Visa card funds.
It is still expected that from Wednesday, October 6th, the overwhelming majority of cardholders will be able to access the funds on their Visa Card using their existing virtual card and/or physical card(s), without providing SKNANB further information. A small percentage of cardholders will be asked to provide certain confirming information. SKNANB prepaid cardholders should continue to check this site for further updates.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your SKNANB prepaid card, please contact SKNANB at vcprepaid@sknanb.com. In addition, cardholders can call +1-869-466-9733 to contact the cardholder services centre between the hours of 8am and 4pm Atlantic Standard Time. Please note, the call volume could be quite large, as such, there may be extended wait times.
We understand the inconvenience and SKNANB thanks you for your continued patience.
St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited
One of my USA staff has been able to take out $300 a day for the past couple of weeks to their US checking account through epassporte. So at least that part is working.
But why have ePassporte not come clean about WHY there is this fiasco in the first place? Someting smells rotten.